Ethics Office Closes Inquiry on Lawmakers’ Ties to Lobbyists

WASHINGTON — A Congressional ethics watchdog has declined to recommend formal investigations into recent actions by three House Democrats close to the defunct lobbying firm PMA Group, whose offices were raided by federal investigators late last year.
The watchdog, the newly created Office of Congressional Ethics, announced its decisions in reports sent to the three lawmakers, Representatives John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, James P. Moran of Virginia and Norm Dicks of Washington.

The office was just one of several legal and ethics authorities examining the possibility that lawmakers might have improperly traded earmarks to PMA clients in exchange for campaign contributions or other favors.

The ethics office has jurisdiction only for the period since the spring of 2008, lacks the power to compel evidence or testimony and can recommend only that the House ethics committee undertake a formal investigation.

In this case, the office’s decision that it could not find evidence meriting such an investigation has no effect on the ethics committee’s broader inquiry on PMA Group’s influence that is already under way.

Nor does the office’s decision affect a separate inquiry by federal law enforcement authorities, who have sent a subpoena to Representative Peter J. Visclosky, an Indiana Democrat with close ties to PMA.

Congressional officials said the Office of Congressional Ethics continues to examine other House lawmakers in connection with the PMA Group.